The Linemakers

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The Minnesota Vikings (5-3) and Seattle Seahawks (4-4) meet Sunday afternoon at CenturyLink Field (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX). Here is point spread information and trends analysis from The Linemakers on Sporting News. For updated lines, visit our live odds page.

Weather: 60 degrees and 50 percent chance of showers

Line: Seahawks -4.5, Total: 38.5

Line movement: The Seahawks opened as 3.5-point favorites and were bet up to to 4.5 within 90 minutes. When business opened Monday, the Seahawks were re-opened at the dead number of 5, but Minnesota action has pushed the line back down to 4.5. The total opened 39.5 and has been bet down to 38.5.

Vikings outlook: Minnesota has had 10 days to regroup after an ugly 36-17 home loss to Tampa Bay. Running back Adrian Peterson leads the league in rushing with 775 yards and will test a defense that ranks second in the NFC against the run at 84.9 yards per game. Peterson ran for 123 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries against the Buccaneers. Quarterback Christian Ponder has thrown seven interceptions in his last four games and has turned in back-to-back lackluster performances. Percy Harvin is tied for the league lead with 60 receptions and has at least six catches in six of the first eight games. Minnesota's defense has struggled against the run, allowing a 100-yard rusher in three straight.

Vikings' key injuries:

— TE John Carlson (concussion) questionable

— S Mistral Raymond (ankle) questionable

— CB Chris Cook (arm) out

Seahawks outlook: Seattle suffered its second straight defeat, losing at Detroit 28-24 on a touchdown pass with 20 seconds to play last week. It was the highest point total surrendered this season by the Seahawks, who rank third in the league at 16.8 points allowed. Seattle has been perfect at CenturyLink, registering victories over the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots, and giving up a combined 42 points in the process. Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson is coming off one of his better efforts of the season, throwing for 236 yards and two TDs. Running back Marshawn Lynch is second to Peterson with 757 yards rushing and has gone over 100 yards four times.

Seahawks' key injuries:

— WR Braylon Edwards (knee) questionable

— WR Doug Baldwin (ankle) questionable

— CB Byron Maxwell (hamstring) questionable

— G John Moffitt (knee) questionable

What The Linemakers are saying: The Seahawks have lost their past two games, but both were on the road. At home, they are 3-0, covering all three, and have done so against a few of the top QBs in the league — Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo. Christian Ponder doesn’t fall into that category. He doesn’t even come close. The Vikings have done all they can to hide Ponder with his short passes, and he rarely ever lets it fly deep. It should be interesting to see how the Vikings respond after getting pounded at home by the Buccaneers with the entire nation watching. The Vikings definitely don’t have the look of the team that started the season quickly at 4-1. We think Seattle wins rather easily here.